Science
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Narcotic analgetics administered directly into the spinal subarachnoid space of the rat via a chronically inserted catheter produce a potent analgesia that can be antagonized by naloxone. The narcotics, acting only at the spinal level, changed cord function to block not only spinal reflexes but also the operant response to painful stimuli.
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We studied the contribution of the Aplysia peripheral nervous system, in the siphon and gill, to habituation of the gill withdrawal reflex. After removal of one central ganglion, the parietovisceral, repeated stimulation of the siphon caused habituation of the reflex as it had with the ganglion intact, showing that there is a peripheral pathway between the siphon and gill with competence to mediate habituation. ⋯ Also, stimulation of one nerve dishabituates the withdrawal movements elicited by the other. These identify two sites of habituation in the gill in addition to sites in the parietovisceral ganglion.
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After 4 years of operation the NERComP network is now a self-supporting success. Some of the reasons for its success are that (i) the network started small and built up utilization; (ii) the members, through monthly trustee meetings, practiced "participatory management" from the outset; (iii) unlike some networks, NERComP appealed to individual academic and research users who were terminal-oriented and who controlled their own budgets; (iv) the compactness of the New England region made it an ideal laboratory for testing networking concepts; and (v) a dedicated staff was willing to work hard in the face of considerable uncertainty. While the major problems were "political, organizational and economic" (1) we have found that they can be solved if the network meets real needs. ⋯ With the groundwork now laid, we expect to see links among existing regional networks to complement development efforts now occurring at the national level. With Greenberger and others, we believe that one or more networking organizations devoted to the management issues discussed in this article will be required to facilitate resource sharing on a national scale. Because of their experience with these problems and their ability to provide service in many areas of the country through existing facilities, regional networks have a major role to play.